Senegal
One of Senegal's most original campements lies in a pristine setting on the edge of a lagoon. You can sleep in atmospheric tree houses that cling to the…
Must-see hotels in West Africa
Cameroon
This friendly hotel decorated with local crafts and fronted by bronze statues is by far the best choice in Foumban. Just 200m from the royal palace, it…
Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project Camp
The Gambia
Listen to the hoots of the chimpanzees from across the water in this remarkable camp. Accommodation is decidedly flashpacker, in comfy South African–style…
Santo Antão
Inland, on a hillside away from the main road, is the charming Aldeia Manga, which has four two-person adobe bungalows (cold water only) and a big house…
Cabo Verde
Just back from the main street in Porto Inglês and a short stroll from the beach, Kaza Tropikal has four bright, simply furnished rooms that open onto a…
Cameroon
This charmingly secluded and gently welcoming spot on a rocky promontory overlooks the sea. With just two rooms it's a good idea to call ahead and book…
Kumasi
The Ghanaian-Canadian owners have pulled out all the stops at this impressive guesthouse. Each of the four enormous air-conditioned rooms is decorated in…
Cameroon
South of Kribi, this is the loveliest and most relaxing hotel in the area. Rooms are in boukarous, all well furnished and tastefully decorated. It's also…
Sierra Leone
Wander down the lane off busy Murray Town Rd to find nine homely, airy rooms in a surprisingly tranquil garden setting, with sea views. There's a…
Mindelo
A boutique British-owned guesthouse on a quiet street, Casa Colonial sits inside a beautifully restored colonial building with a fresh green coat of paint…
Cabo Verde
This French-run guesthouse offers a warm welcome in a converted home in a peaceful corner of Achada de Santo António. The five rooms are pleasantly set…
Cabo Verde
An idyllic base on the island, Kaza di Zaza has one stylish guest apartment and two small self-contained bungalows, which are a bit rustic but undeniably…
Republic of Congo
With attractive thatched-roof cottages overlooking a little lagoon and a gorgeous private beach, Malonda Lodge, 18km south of Pointe-Noire, is perhaps the…
Rio Muni
Situated behind the Chinese hotel under construction, this Senegalese-owned hotel is bright, clean and well furnished. Some rooms have a bathtub as well…
Senegal
This Belgian-run lodge offers quality accommodation in attractive bungalows, nicely outfitted and set amid lush grounds. But it's all the extras that have…
Boa Vista
The gorgeous Migrante has four rooms set around a courtyard of mustard yellow and bougainvillea pink, with a giant palm tree. Each room has dark-wood…
Cameroon
Indaba offers delightful boukarous in a lush garden with banana palms and ferns. There are also four (cheaper) rooms with mosquito nets in the guesthouse…
Monrovia
Monrovia's finest hotel is an institution. It has 60-plus beautiful rooms, decked out with stylish furnishings and luxurious bathrooms (the suites are…
Dakar
This attractive and welcoming guesthouse has 10 cheerfully painted rooms, a book-filled lounge, and a restaurant with seats in a small courtyard. The…
Cameroon
Located immediately south of Kribi, this great place has whitewashed terraced rooms splashed with bright colours opening onto the palm-edged pool and…
Senegal
At this iconic place on the beach you'll find appealing rooms and cottages, great food and a hearty welcome from host Jean-Paul. The lush grounds and…
São Tomé
This resort has a welcome lack of pretension. While its tar-paper roofs resemble a tropical research station, it's so dated it's retro cool, and fits the…
Guinea-Bissau
A true Robinson Crusoe experience, minus the building work. That's been done by Francois, a grizzled, friendly and passionate Frenchman who runs this…
Guinea
If this hotel were anywhere else on Earth it would have been converted into a luxury heritage hotel. As it is, this 1930s colonial building, which was…
Mauritania
Easily the nicest place around Nouâdhibou, nay, the nicest place on the entire Mauritanian coast. This simple mud-walled compound is set directly on a…
L'Hôtellerie de l'Hôpital Albert Schweitzer
Gabon
Right next to the hospital museum and the river, this is by far the most atmospheric and interesting accommodation in town. Sleek and smart rooms are…
Auberge Le Jardin Secret – Chez Pascal
Benin
An atmosphere of dreamlike tranquility wafts over this well-organised guesthouse tucked away in a side von in a quiet neighbourhood. The neatly tended…
Guinea
On a short stretch of private white-sand beach (entry for nonguests GFr15,000) that's swept clean every morning, this gorgeous hotel might well be the…
Conakry
The brand-new, boat-shaped, Noom Conakry is where the city puts on its most sophisticated face. It's a face that comes with an infinity pool overlooking…
Libreville
Definitely the pick of Libreville's hotels, this gorgeous, design-conscious place has individually decorated rooms with Gabonese art on the walls, stylish…
Guinea
The bungalows, with their woven, patterned roofs and colourful bedspreads, are as pretty as the tropical birds that fill the leafy garden each morning…
Conakry
This small, central place is turning the Conakry hotel scene on its head. Gone are drowsy overpriced rooms and lacklustre service. In are business smart…
Guinea-Bissau
Occupying one half of a tiny islet (Ilha de Keré), this isolated fishing lodge is made up of a collection of thatched-roof bungalows – it's ideal for…
Burkina Faso
This lovely guesthouse, with its impeccable Kassena-style huts and beautiful garden, is the best place to stay in the area, and one of Burkina's most…
Brazzaville
Congo's number one travellers' meeting point has clean and comfortable rooms (though try to avoid the smaller, noisier road-facing rooms). Overlanders are…
Benin
A lovely place in a beautiful setting on a small hill (views!), Pendjari Lodge mixes old-style safari ambience with nouveau bush chic. It sports a handful…
Guinea-Bissau
Gilles' fishing lodge hits the right ratio of charm to luxury, with comfortable rooms, pretty landscaped grounds, a freshwater swimming pool and excellent…
Cameroon
Definitely the best-value accommodation in Douala, the German Seaman's Mission is a literal oasis of tranquillity in the city centre. It's set in a…
Lomé
Seeking a relaxing cocoon in Lomé with homely qualities? This champ of a guesthouse, run by a Frenchman who fell in love with Togo, has all the key…
Rio Muni
Even the standard rooms here are enormous, with a lounge area and good bathroom. It's all dark wood with leather armchairs. There are larger apartments…
